Heavy monsoon rains lashed Pakistan’s twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad early Wednesday, triggering urban flooding alerts as authorities issued warnings for continued thunderstorms across Punjab and parts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the current weather system is expected to persist in Islamabad-Rawalpindi and surrounding areas, warning in a statement that “urban flooding may occur… during the forecast period.”
The public has been advised to take precautionary measures.
By 6:30am Wednesday, over 80 millimeters of rain had already been recorded across the two cities, according to Rawalpindi’s Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA). Specific rainfall totals included 52 mm in Saidpur, 66 mm in Bokra, 53 mm in Pir Wadhai, and 55 mm in Shamsabad, WASA Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf said.
Ashraf saaid a rain emergency had been declared, with WASA teams deployed alongside heavy machinery in low-lying areas.
“All city drains including Nullah Lai are being monitored… at present, the water flow remains within normal levels,” he said, noting the depth of the stream at key points stood at 9 feet at Katarian and 5 feet at Gawalmandi Bridge.
The PMD said the system producing the rain-thundershowers is active over Kashmir, Haripur, Abbottabad, and northeastern Punjab, and is likely to spread further across the province within the next 1-3 hours.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, also confirmed the onset of the monsoon season, saying the first spell is expected to continue until July 1.
A statement quoted PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia as saying: “This year’s monsoon rains are forecast to be 25 percent above normal. All district administrations have been alerted.”
Storms are forecast in Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Lahore, and other parts of Punjab, with a warning of possible landslides in hilly areas like Murree and Galiyat.
Kathia urged citizens to “stay indoors during storms, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow safety protocols.”
The PDMA said all emergency departments, including Rescue 1122, WASA, irrigation and livestock authorities, had been placed on high alert. In case of emergency, the public has been advised to contact the PDMA helpline at 1129.